It seems the 36 inches is about right for our calves, some did hesitate a bit going under. Could be a bit higher if the cows weren't pressured around it. If making a creep panel where the calves wandered back and forth for grain or shelter 40 inches would probably work.

I think it's going to depend upon the cows and calves. Powder River makes a Calf Pass Panel that I use for creep feeding or sometimes so the calves can get to shelter. The Bars are vertical (Somewhat like a feeder panel) with an adjustable Horizontal bar. I find that adjustability handy at times.

So what is your final thoughts on the method, did it work well enough to sort calves off the cows in the future? Was it much faster for you that what you had been doing previously? I wondered if it would also leave all cattle involved in a little calmer state of mind, especially the calves as we know how easily they can be stirred up.

Nicky wrote:Wondering if anyone has any new input, and if you do it with baby calves too, like at branding

I watched the video again. The ideal sorting gate would allow you to choose how many bottom rails to swing out of the way for sorting calves at different times of the year and sizes. So, I am thinking the bottom three rails would be collared independently over the main gate frame. If you showed this to Joe Coehlo (They do the pipe rail fencing out of NW Livestock Commission in Hermiston), I think he could custom build such a gate.

As important would be getting a handle on the cattle. Cattle that are used to being worked and let by and stopped. Especially of your calves were a little used to a creep pen and you going through the cattle on horse or foot, I think you could sort like this at branding.

Building it 'in my head' I used standard heavy duty gate, hinges went to two square tubing pieces.

Said tubing pieces slide over long, smaller sq tubing, 'offset' from stout, tall post. Numerous holes a couple inches apart, to pin 'gate hinge tubing' to smaller over a couple vertical feet. Pulley on top of post, cable down to top of gate, over pulley, to winch off of wore out grain auger. Have a couple of feet of vertical adjustment, use from branding thru weaning.....

littlejoe wrote:Building it 'in my head' I used standard heavy duty gate, hinges went to two square tubing pieces.

Said tubing pieces slide over long, smaller sq tubing, 'offset' from stout, tall post. Numerous holes a couple inches apart, to pin 'gate hinge tubing' to smaller over a couple vertical feet. Pulley on top of post, cable down to top of gate, over pulley, to winch off of wore out grain auger. Have a couple of feet of vertical adjustment, use from branding thru weaning.....

I'm used to 6 rail gates. In your example, we'd slide off the bottom rails as needed?

I was just keeping it simple and gate intact and stout. Seems like there's always one cow that would try to go under something like this deal-----this would be a standard , heavy duty gate the only 'modification' would be the hinges going to short sq tubing that could slide up and down vertically.

To change height, pull a pin and lower or raise with winch, re pin. Probably work best with second person assisting on end of gate.